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B. HARTVIGSEN, Topsoe, Lyngby, Denmark

H₂Tech (H₂T) sat down with Bo Hartvigsen (BH), Senior Business Development Director, Power-to-X for Topsoe for an exclusive Q&A about solid oxide electrolysis, the dynamic ammonia (NH₃) process and Topsoe’s role in the energy transition.

H₂T: What technologies does Topsoe have for NH₃ production?

BH: For NH₃ production, we are using the same technology that we have for more than 1,200 NH₃ charges of catalyst and we have designed several 100 plants for NH₃ production. We are using the same type of loop, with the same type of converter and catalyst, but the dynamic aspect of it is in the in the control mechanism for the for the loop, where you can operate and maintain the NH₃ converter more or less stable in pressure or and temperature even though the feed going into the loop is fluctuating up and down depending on how the wind is blowing and the sun is shining.

H₂T: Does this give you more control over the process?

BH: If you did not have this dynamic capability, you would have to put in a very large hydrogen (H₂) storage container. If the peaks and fluctuations are removed in the H₂ production process, you can operate the NH₃ loop without H₂ storage, due to H₂ storage being very expensive. The good thing with loop technology is that regardless of how the renewable electricity profile, you can go straight to the NH₃ loop, and produce the end product immediately. We are putting together a demonstration plant in Denmark within a year, where we will operate an NH₃ facility with solar, wind, no grid connection and no H₂ storage, going straight from the electrolyzer to the loop, producing NH₃.

H₂T: Can you explain solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC) and how it compares to other electrolysis methods?

BH: I have spent many years developing electrolysis, and we started out looking at fuel cells that did not materialize. However, we took that knowledge and spent the next 10 yr developing until where we are today, with SOECs (high temperature electrolysis). I normally say it is the next generation of electrolysis because if you look at alkaline and proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers, they are operating at low temperatures. SOECs operate at high temperatures and will have up to about a 30% higher efficiency compared to alkaline or PEM. We have spent approximately 35 yr to get to the point where we are today, where we are ready to commercialize the SOEC. We are developing the world's largest production facility for SOEC cells in Denmark. It will produce and deliver the first SOECs in early 2025.

H₂T: Why are SOECs not widely used?

BH: I would attribute that to the technology readiness level because it is true that alkaline has been around for many years; however, it has been used on very small scales. Now, other technologies must improve to a completely different level. Solid oxide is a completely different electrolysis method, and they are difficult to develop, which is also why not many companies are able to do it.

For more information on this topic, visit: https://h2-tech.com/podcasts/2024/01/topsoe-s-involvement-in-solid-oxide-electrolysis-and-dynamic-ammonia-process/